Can you record a FaceTime call on a Mac?

Yes. For a one-on-one FaceTime audio call, click the More button and choose Call Recording; the recording and a transcript are saved in the Notes app. FaceTime video calls and group calls have no Record button, so you record them on your Mac instead: with the ⌘⇧5 screen recorder (macOS 27 can include system audio) or with a local recorder such as MeetingRecorder , which saves both voices as an audio file.

Does FaceTime notify the other person when you record?

With Apple's built-in Call Recording, yes: both participants hear a notice that the call is being recorded. Screen recording and local recorders do not notify anyone, which makes telling the other person your responsibility. Many places require everyone's consent.

Why does my FaceTime screen recording have no sound from the other person?

On macOS 15 and 26 the ⌘⇧5 screen recorder captures only your microphone, not the audio your Mac is playing, so the other person is silent. On macOS 27, open Options in the ⌘⇧5 toolbar and turn on Include System Audio. A local recorder that captures microphone and system audio together avoids the problem on every supported macOS version.

How to Record a FaceTime Call on a Mac (With Audio)

FaceTime now has a built-in Call Recording feature — but only for one-on-one audio calls, and both people hear a notice. Here’s what works on a Mac for every other case, with both voices in the file.

The short answer

For a one-on-one FaceTime audio call, use Apple’s built-in Call Recording: click the More button during the call and choose Call Recording. For video calls and group calls there is no Record button, so you record on your Mac. MeetingRecorder is a free menu-bar app for Mac that records your microphone and the FaceTime audio together and saves an audio file with both voices. It records the sound of the call, not the picture.

Consent first. Recording laws vary by country and state, and many are “all-party consent.” Tell the other person you’re recording and get their OK. Only Apple’s built-in Call Recording announces itself; with every other method, disclosure is your job.

Option 1 — FaceTime’s built-in Call Recording (audio calls)

On macOS 26 and later, during a FaceTime audio call with one other person, click the More button and choose Call Recording. To stop, click More again and choose Stop.

Good: built in, and the recording comes with a transcript. You find both in the Notes app, in the Call Recordings folder.
Annoying: both participants hear a notice that the call is being recorded, and the result lives in Notes rather than as a plain file in a folder.
Doesn’t help with video calls or group calls — it works only for one-on-one audio calls.

Option 2 — macOS screen recording (⌘⇧5)

Press ⌘⇧5, choose to record the screen, and start. This is the way to keep the picture of a video call. On macOS 15 and 26 the built-in tool records your microphone but not the other person’s voice, so you end up with a video where you can hear only yourself.

macOS 27 fixes the silence: open Options in the ⌘⇧5 toolbar and turn on Include System Audio. You get a large video file with no transcript, and you have to remember the option before the call starts. More on this in recording system audio on macOS.

Option 3 — a local recorder (both voices, any FaceTime call)

A menu-bar app records your mic and the call’s audio together and saves the file to a folder on your Mac. It works the same for audio calls, video calls and group calls.

With MeetingRecorder the flow is:

Click Start Recording in the menu bar before or during the call.
It captures both sides of the call — your mic and the other person’s voice — as one mix, or separate tracks.
When the call ends, one click gives you a transcript with speaker labels and a short summary.

You get an audio file (M4A), not a video. Everything stays local unless you choose to transcribe, and there’s no account to set up.

Rule of thumb: one-on-one audio call and a notice is fine — use Apple’s Call Recording. You need the picture — use ⌘⇧5. You want both voices as an audio file with a transcript, for any kind of FaceTime call — use a local recorder.

Which should you use?

One-on-one audio call, and you’re happy with a recording in Notes: FaceTime’s Call Recording.
You need the video: ⌘⇧5 (turn on Include System Audio on macOS 27 to hear the other side).
Video or group call, and you want the conversation as audio with a transcript: a local recorder.

How to record a FaceTime call on a Mac

The short answer

Option 1 — FaceTime’s built-in Call Recording (audio calls)

Option 2 — macOS screen recording (⌘⇧5)

Option 3 — a local recorder (both voices, any FaceTime call)

Which should you use?

Common questions

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